Forty Nine Ford: Rekindling Romance With A New Version
8 January 2001
See the entire TV ON THE NET introduction athttp://www.theautochannel.com/cybercast/2001autoshows/naias/010107-ford49.asx
DETROIT - The year was 1949. After years of wartime sacrifice and sameness
in durable goods, postwar America was ready for an automotive design revolution.
The '49 Ford -- with radically new "slab sides," integrated body and fenders,
independent front suspension and rear quarter windows that opened -- served as a
symbol of optimism for the future.
Fifty years later, an all-new Ford Forty-Nine custom coupe concept car is
poised to repeat a bit of history, as it makes its world debut at the 2001
North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
Back to the Future
Clean, simple, design cues are conveyed in the rounded high intensity
discharge (HID) and projector-beam front lighting. In the rear, sleek,
narrow, wrap-around LED tail lamps make a distinctive statement.
The interior also is a modern interpretation of the original car's simple
design cues. A cantilevered, bench-style front seat is power-actuated. A
floating center console runs the entire length of the interior, giving the
impression of four-passenger bucket seating, while also serving to stiffen the
vehicle's structure.
The interior color theme is two-tone: black and sienna. The black
leather seats have sienna leather seat backs. The armrest is wrapped in
charcoal leather. The lower door trim panels are finished in satin metallic
silver. The silver carpet inserts are accented with chrome rails running the
front to rear.
The car's primary gauges are contained within a single round instrument
binnacle. The analog tachometer takes center stage and is surrounded by the
electronic speedometer. Audio and climate controls are presented in a
flip-out panel located in the instrument panel, just ahead of the shifter.
The audio system features a multi-disc CD changer and a strategically
placed speaker network, anchored by a massive sub-woofer, all driven by a
200-watt power amplifier.
Powered by Thunderbird
The engine bay is finished in satin black, stainless and chrome metal
finishes throughout.
The Forty-Nine concept is powered by a Thunderbird 3.9-liter, DOHC,
32-valve V-8, tuned to fit the car's appearance and refined muscle.
